Sarah Marshall

A pair of Doncaster brothers, who were able to fund a lavish lifestyle involving exotic holidays by growing and selling cannabis, have been ordered to pay back over £120,000 of drugs money.

James and Henry Kong have been jailed for a total of 13 years, after over £70,000 worth of cannabis was found at their home addresses in Doncaster following a series of police raids.

At James Kong’s address, in Norborough Road in Wheatley, officers found cannabis plants were being grown within two tents inside the house and in the loft area.

Large quantities of dried cannabis was also discovered inside plastic containers as well as other paraphernalia used to grow the Class B drug.

Officers searching the address also found a stun gun.

Police then raided Henry Kong’s address, in Central Boulevard, Wheatley Hills, and found cannabis cuttings in the loft as well as a brand new tent and electrical equipment, which officers believe would have been used to grow cannabis. A further stun gun was also recovered, as well as a canister of pepper spray and £1,600 cash.

Officers also found receipts relating to the purchase of other equipment to grow drugs.

The cannabis discovered in both houses was estimated to have a street value of just over £74,000.

Police found that both men had been enjoying lavish lifestyles, making trips abroad to exotic locations like Thailand and the Philippines.

Two cars were also registered to the men, worth a total of more than £30,000.

It was also discovered that James Kong had paid off nearly £70,000 of his £122,000 mortgage.

This is despite there being no record of recent employment for either men, neither were they in receipt of benefits.

Following an extensive and detailed investigation, James Kong, 34, was charged with production of cannabis, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, as well as possession of a stun gun.

He was jailed for six years in December last year following a trial.

Henry Kong, 37, was charged with production of cannabis, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, as well as possession of pepper spray and counterfeit currency. He was jailed for seven years in December last tear.

South Yorkshire Police made a confiscation request under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover some of the cash the Kong brothers would have made from growing and selling drugs.

And at a hearing at Doncaster Crown Court earlier this month, the brothers were ordered to pay back a total of just over £121,000.

Detective Sergeant Neil Beresford, who led the investigation, said: “The Kong brothers are career criminals in producing and selling drugs.”

He added: “It was clear from the outset that they had benefited handsomely from their criminal activity and had used the cash they made to fund a very flamboyant and luxurious lifestyle.

“Be in no doubt that these men benefited from the misery of others – drugs ruins lives and their conviction has taken countless drugs off the streets of South Yorkshire.

“And we’ve not stopped there. We cannot allow these offenders to benefit from their crimes, so the cash they’ve made from their criminality will be clawed back and used for good. This sends a very clear message to others that South Yorkshire Police can, and will, use the Proceeds of Crime Act against offenders to confiscate their ill-gotten gains.”

The cash recovered from the brothers will now be distributed between the government, South Yorkshire Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the CPS and the courts.